Politics & Government

Campbell Road Bridge Opening Delayed

Closed six months, the bridge will not be ready for traffic until sometime next month; plus more local news briefs.

As some Smyrna watchers speculated, the Campbell Road Bridge, closed at the beginning of August, will not be ready to reopen by the end of the week as had been advertised by signs and hoped for by the city.

Due to the recent inclement weather, grading activities have been slowed at the site construction.

The bridge was closed on Aug. 1 and with it a highly used traffic connection along Campbell Road between Atlanta and Spring Roads. Oakley Downs, The Park at Oakley Downs and surrounding neighborhoods have been affected by the project, which was approved in the 2005 SPLOST and has involved the replacement of the existing bridge over the CSX railroad.

Find out what's happening in Smyrna-Viningswith free, real-time updates from Patch.

The new bridge will accommodate sidewalks for pedestrian traffic. Signage at the site have been changed to indicate a new opening date of Feb. 26, however the City of Smyrna’s website indicates the contractor has committed to opening the bridge on/at Feb. 10…weather pending of course.    

How ready are you for the Campbell Road Bridge to open?

Find out what's happening in Smyrna-Viningswith free, real-time updates from Patch.

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Better not build before you have permission, and watch how many folks are living at your house.

Both of those issues come before the Tuesday night. The county is looking at amending its code, something done periodically throughout the year. The Cobb Board of Commissioners meets at 7 p.m. at the government complex, 100 Cherokee Street, Marietta.

One of the amendments would involve beer tasting. Businesses that host wine tastings could also have craft beer tastings. Craft is beer brewed by independent brewers with an annual production that doesn’t exceed 6 million barrels.

But be careful.

“Right now, there’s nowhere you are allowed to have beer tastings,” Cobb Community Development Director Rob Hosack told the Marietta Daily Journal.

“We wouldn’t be comfortable with saying, ‘You can do beer tastings,” and say, ‘What the hell, you can have Budweiser.’ Because every Tom, Dick and Harry would have Budweiser tastings.”

Another code amendment looks at who is allowed to live in a residence. The county intended for no more than two unrelated people to live together, Hosack said. The code says a family plus two more unrelated people can live together.

The amendment clarifies the wording.

On another issue, the county is looking at new guidelines to explain development rules around the county’s airport.

Hosack said the rules, crafted by the airport manager and the airport’s advisory board, would prevent numerous buildings from locating near each other. This would cut down on the fallout if there was a plane to crash near the site.

Another proposed change would implement fines of up to $1,000 for developers who start construction before getting a permit, and those who build bigger than originally approved.

“It will affect a couple of bad apples, that, as opposed to asking permission, they seek forgiveness,” Hosack told the MDJ. - Holly Roberson

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Plots at the Smyrna Community Garden are now available for a one-year lease: 5x6, $40; 5x8, $50; 5x10, $63; and 5x12, $75. Lease includes water convenient to all plots. Must be a resident. Call 770-431-2863 for information.

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Keep Smyrna Beautiful will be helping host a free shredding event on March 24 at the Aline Wolfe Center on Church Street in Smyrna. Limit 100 pounds per car (4 file boxes). Small staples are ok and there will be other locations in Cobb as well. Call 770-431-2863 for information and 770-528-1135 for other locations.


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